What is the meaning of Jeremiah 48:22?

Dibon

“ …upon Dibon… ” (Jeremiah 48:22)

• Location & history

– A fortified Moabite town overlooking the Arnon gorge (see Numbers 32:3; 34:3).

– Seat of King Mesha’s power, celebrated on the Moabite Stone.

– Earlier allotted to Reuben, yet retaken by Moab, underscoring continual rebellion (Isaiah 15:2; Jeremiah 48:18).

• Meaning in the verse

– By naming Dibon first, the Lord singles out Moab’s political and religious center.

– The judgment foretold in Jeremiah 48:8–10 sweeps over the entire plateau; Dibon’s fall proves no stronghold is exempt when God speaks.

– Literal fulfillment came when Babylon advanced against Moab (Jeremiah 27:3, 48:47).

• Takeaway

– National pride collapses under divine justice.

– God’s word is exact: specific places, specific outcomes, perfectly carried out.

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Nebo

“ …upon Nebo… ” (Jeremiah 48:22)

• Location & associations

– City near famed Mount Nebo, where Moses viewed the land (Deuteronomy 34:1).

– A sanctuary of the Moabite/Chaldean god Nebo; therefore steeped in idolatry (Isaiah 46:1; Jeremiah 48:1).

• Meaning in the verse

– The listing shows that even a site linked with Israel’s heritage cannot shelter sinful Moab.

– Earlier, Jeremiah declared, “Nebo is put to shame” (48:1); verse 22 reiterates that promise, affirming Scripture’s literal accuracy.

• Takeaway

– Idolatry—no matter how entrenched—faces certain downfall.

– Memories of past blessing (Moses’ view) cannot substitute for present obedience.

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Beth-diblathaim

“ …upon Beth-diblathaim…” (Jeremiah 48:22)

• Location & nuance

– A village south of the Arnon, possibly the same as Almon-diblathaim in Numbers 33:46–47.

– Name suggests abundance (“house of fig-cakes”), hinting at prosperity Moab enjoyed.

• Meaning in the verse

– God’s judgment reaches the quiet, productive towns, not just the fortresses (compare Jeremiah 48:24–25).

– Prosperity does not shield from wrath when a nation persists in arrogance (Jeremiah 48:29–30).

• Takeaway

– Everyday life, commerce, and comfort lie within God’s jurisdiction.

– A society’s “sweetness” is hollow if it resists Him.

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summary

Jeremiah 48:22 lists Dibon, Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim to show the all-encompassing scope of God’s judgment on Moab. Each city—political center, idolatrous shrine, and prosperous village—falls under the same divine sentence. The verse teaches that no place, position, or prosperity can protect against the literal, certain fulfillment of God’s word.